Meeting an Urgent Need: 

Same-Day Clinic Access

Imagine you realize that you or your family member needs to see a mental health professional--the sooner, the better. You wonder how long it will take to get an appointment, since you don't have a provider. You've heard that Arundel Lodge provides services, so you call. The voice on the other end of the phone says, "Can you come in today?" Is this for real?

Yes, very much so, now that Arundel Lodge has developed same-day clinic access. Arundel Lodge NEWS asked Kathleen Kennedy, Practice Manager, how this works. She told us that people who want to be seen for mental health issues can walk in without an appointment and be seen on a same-day basis, rather than waiting for a week or more for an appointment. "They will be seen by our intake coordinator or a therapist or prescriber. The most likely scenario is that they will see the intake coordinator and, after their intake is completed, they will be scheduled with both a prescriber and a therapist."

For years, staff at the Lodge were aware of the unmet need for same-day access in Anne Arundel County. Kennedy explained that some people "have an urgent need to be seen by a mental health professional and don't want to wait. If they are able to been seen here right away, that may stop them from seeking help at an emergency room or hospital." So, the Lodge services have an impact not only on the persons who are served, but on the health system as a whole.

Most people who have used mental health services will describe difficulty in entering the system. It is hard for those familiar with the acronyms, agencies, and paperwork, but it can be overwhelming for those new to all that. While existing clients of Arundel Lodge can get quick access to services in a crisis, the same-day clinic access program is designed to help these new folks. "The people we serve have experienced a certain level of frustration trying to find help," says Kennedy. "In certain instances they have been told that some providers aren't taking new patients. Other providers have a wait time to schedule for weeks or months out."

So, the Lodge's Outpatient Mental Health Clinic built it, and people came. Kennedy remarked that they have been very busy with this new program and are serving many new people. Developing and administering same-day access required thinking through a lot of logistics and details. Staff worked with consultants to help set up the policies and procedures, and the new program works well. New referrals come from many sources, including hospitals, primary care providers, PDG, and other local agencies.

Clearly, same-day access helps individuals and the community as a whole. In addition, it is good for Arundel Lodge. "It helps us in that we no longer have any 'no shows' for initial intakes as none are actually scheduled," Kennedy explained. We learned from her that the Clinic has more efficient scheduling, a larger client base, and most importantly, an increased ability to provide support to those who need it. Kennedy said it well: "Many of the persons we serve are grateful for the immediate service. Many come in feeling very fragile and are relieved to have someone to talk to, to get help."

To contact the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at Arundel Lodge, call (443) 433-5903, or walk in on Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Clinic is located at 2600 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Maryland.

Art in October 

Sept. 22-Oct. 31: Outer Limits 2013 at the Ratner 

 

This is an invitational show with Cornerstone and Studio In-Sight. The show continues through October 31 at The Dennis & Phillip Ratner Museum, 10001 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814. You can contact the Museum at (301) 897-1518. 

 

The following art by Arundel Lodge artists are included in the show:

 

"In the Den" by Marisa Bolan

"Sky Sail" by Haran Wright

"Gray Awakening II" by Melinda Cannon

"Blossom" by Lois Agee

"Lighthouse" by Lee Hanson

"Coughing in Space" by Leah Loebner

"Girl with Green Eyes" by Christian McCarrol 

"Bipolar Mandala" by Tony Mezzapelle

"What I see when I close my Eyes" by Margaret O'Brien

"Where Mommy Died" by Joe March

"Progressions Into Ocean" by Colin Lacey

"A Schizophrenic Maze" by Sheryl Perez 

"Blue Boats" by Haran Wright, featured in the Outsider Art Inside the Beltway show

Oct. 12-Nov. 1: Outsider Art Inside the Beltway

This year, six Arundel Lodge artists were accepted to participate in the 8th Annual Outsider Art Inside the Beltway show, produced by Art Enables. This show is a juried event, and Art Enables shared that they received about 300 submissions this year, so this is quite an accomplishment!

The opening reception will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Art Enables Gallery, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, DC.